Tools

Open Studios STL

One of the benefits of creating art in St. Louis as opposed to that large East Coast city whose name we can't recall is that rent here is comparatively cheap. That means artists have options when it comes to studio space, which means they can spend more time on their work and less time trying to find a thirteenth person to get on the lease and defray costs. You can see for yourself during the Open Studio STL program. More than 150 artists welcome you into their studios this weekend to demystify the artistic process — it's something that's happening all over the metro area every day of the week. The kick-off party runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, October 7 at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (3750 Washington Boulevard; www.openstudios-stl.org), where you can also pick up a map that shows the participating artists' studio locations. Those studios are open starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday (October 8 and 9). You can take a self-guided tour, sign up for a bicycle tour through Trailnet, or register for select studio visits led by local gallery and museum curators. Admission is free.